Riot Fest 2022 (September 16-18, Chicago IL) Festival • Page 20

it was more of a desire than a realistic idea

 

I think that bit in bold is a big part of it. There's only so many headliners floating around that feel special and aren't repetitive. Even with Bonnaroo being a pretty effective "multi-genre" festival, given the size of the whole thing it's a challenge to book a line-up interesting/unique that also draws.

Riot Fest is at an advantage there, because the core of what they do is pretty broadly defined anyway and has a deep well of acts to pull from that draw well at a festival even if they might cap out at 800-1,500 capacity venues touring on their own that don't break the bank.

There's plenty of ways to make these things special, but I think most of the "big guns" in the festival industry stick with what's safe rather than attempting to branch out a bit. And I don't mean genres... I mean, maybe book a mid-day act that isn't necessarily a big draw but is an interesting name.

I say this, and I actually feel like 'Roo booking the Chicks as a headliner is a really interesting move. They have a name, though I don't think they're quite the pull that they once were. But it still makes sense for them to be that high. And for the band? I can see people saying "Fuck it, let's check 'em out. We're here anyway." So it could work in their favor in terms of winning people over.

 

I don't mind that Bonnaroo lineup. The top 3 is kind of underwhelming (with the exception of Stevie), but The Chicks and Flume make up for it Friday and Saturday and the undercard is pretty great. Probably won't end up going but it looks like a fun time.

 

def on the fringe of what Riot would book, but Lord Huron is out, August 15 in Chicago

 

I mean, there’s a few artists I like sprinkled in there, but this is underwhelming af

 

Personally I really like friday and saturday undercard

 

Hmmm I think that lineup actually rocks

 

I’m usually the guy to shit on every major festival’s lineup- but this rocks.

 

Wow I'm very surprised to be genuinely tempted by all three days of coachella. It's a non-starter travel-wise but the lineup is great for me.

 

I’m gonna be carrying that torch for Carly Rae Jepsen to play Riot Fest again this year.

Seems like she’s in the value bin for festivals - with an emphasis on the “value”.

 

Yeah, that Coachella lineup is fantastic.

 

my well of knowledge is pretty shallow in edm, indie-pop, or current hip hop, but these are a LOT of names ive seen people be excited for over the years so it feels like they curated something for the people, just not really for me. like in the top line under each headliner, the only people i know are run the jewels, danny elfman, phoebe and megan thee stallion, and the last 2 are more through pop culture osmosis, not through listening, dont know a single other name on those line and those are the top lines, lol

 

Fuck it. I'll bite. The lineup was better 10 years ago.

 

I'd do anything for those Blue Album & Los Angeles album plays , but other than that, i prefer the variety and bigger scale of current day.

 

That's fair. Riot 2011 was probably more my speed. I generally loathe outdoor festivals at this point so a bunch of shows scattered across several clubs is much more appealing to me. That and there's a lot of variety for me within the niches of guitar music I'm into - Nachmystium, Macabre, Youth of Today, and Urge Overkill are also bands that'd be great adds for me nowadays that aren't as appealing to the masses.

 

Looking at the 2011 lineup just gives me another opportunity to repeat my annual plea: For the love god, Riot Fest, please book Strike Anywhere again.

 

2012-present day riot fest is so much better then it was pre 2012. Yeah being a multi venue thing was cool but them going to a festival setting allowed them to grow and make more money and book bigger better bands and become the monster it is today

 

Strike and Suicide Machines are my biggest hopes for small stage acts this year and both closing it out different nights would be perfect

 

Depending on who all else is on that stage on that particular day, I could see the Suicide Machines maybe closing it out. But I feel like Strike would be more of a "second to last" kinda deal on that stage. I never know with that stage... Some years they have a big headliner over there, other years it's just kinda whoever they couldn't find a slot for on the main stage in the early afternoon. Haha.

I'd love for them to close it out. But I also feel like seeing that hill be like, 50% empty would be such a bummer.

 

Yeah that's a good point, I remember Face To Face closing it out a few years ago and I believe Bottlerocket did as well? So it just depends lol Strike into Suicide would also be sick

 

only been to a few small stage closers but glassjaw in 19 and streetlight in 17 were all timers. highly suspect and the ergs were both solid, need to get over there more but they just keep booking headliners i like, haha

 

Here's a brief list of recent headliners of that stage over the past four years. I know TBR was on it later in the day in like, 2015 or so? They played after C.I.V. and Joyce Manor. But I forget if they headlined or not. But that was the year they had two stages over there anyway, so it's not quite the same...

2017: Nothing More, Streetlight Manifesto, Andrew W.K.
2018: Face to Face, Andrew W.K./GWAR, Dillinger Four
2019: Glassjaw, Andrew W.K., the Ergs!
2021: Beach Bunny, Andrew W.K., Weak Days

On the year D4 headlined it kinda looked like another band was meant to close it and bailed, given how early in the day music ended on that stage.

It all depends on how the festival would want to stack it. They could close it and it would feel kinda light on that day. Or they could have them and Mustard Plug or... If you want to give it a hardcore slant? I could see the Suicide Machines being direct support to, say, Sick of it All or Boysetsfire. Actually, that would be really sick. Haha.

 

I wish they'd go back to having Andrew WK earlier in the day it'd be fun to see him again but I'm probably never going to choose him over a headliner or other late in the day act

 

This! I've seen him once at Riot Fest and it was back in 2012. Because there's almost always somebody else playing later in the day that I've never seen before. You could slot him on basically any stage and have it work well too, so I dunno. I kinda feel like its just be him requesting that slot. Haha.